Second 'First' Light ...

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Up on the EQ6 and with camera mounted.
Cold (4 degrees !! ) clear night so setup out on the driveway with the DSLR on the accessory bar and tried some widefield. Finally shut down about 11:30pm, cold but happy and with about 127 20 sec frames of M7, Lagoon\Trifid and Tuc 47. They look reasonable and will give me some stuff to process and play with. Got alignment close but put in the 12mm reticule EP and was doing minor corrections during the later exposures. I've got to figure out this drift align procedure.
Rotating UTA is a big success from a comfort point of view. The abilty to put the EP somewhere accessible is magic.
Balanced it with the G Clamps and had no problems with erratic drive or slippage.
Had the scope pointing away from the garage doors at one stage and could not focus it. Lights from inside the garage were coming through the back of the minimalist mirror cell confusing the view. Trap for the unwary and an indicator of how easy it is to make mistakes.
I have acquired some thin rigid plastic so will cut a Hartmann mask and next time see if I can get the DSLR attached to the 10". Use the 80mm as a visual guide scope.
But discovered it is very hard to take photographs of black objects in the night. Poor little Fuji Camera struggled to see anything. (see below)
I'll try processing the frames and see what I come up with but technically I'm happy with the setup and the way it is working.

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Awesome stuff, Brent.

I dig the counterweights too, . If it works, brilliant!!!

[ZeroID (Brent)]

They are ..... adjustable Alex.
Add equipment, add clamp(s)

[SkyViking (Rolf)]

That looks fantastic Looking forward to the processed images, that'll be exciting.

I have some issues with stray light too, but since mine is permanently mounted I have learned the angles to avoid, and it's also well shielded by the obs walls. When I leave it imaging then I usually turn the laptop screen away from the scope and it's good enough. I don't know if I'll have to add some shielding/baffling - when I get a more sensitive camera then I guess I'll know...
Congratulations on your build Brent, it's a beauty.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Hi Rolf, images aren't so good and not enough of them. Got to get this tracking\guiding setup better. I'll have another play with them but I think I was a little impatient on the night.

Light sheilding is thick card with black layer inside. Just pulls out the way for access and very effective.

On anther theme I've started a modified build of the SkySlab (Observatory is not quite the right term for it ). I'll secure my sewer pipe pier down to the 10 tonne concrete slab in the backyard and build a raised platform around to reach the UTA and isolate the pier from my movements. Add power and computer modules and set the EQ6 head on top. Seal it underneath so I won't have to worry about moisture coming through then wrap it up tight when I am not using it. It will do for the time being as an aligned setup and I can add walls\roof later when circumstances improve.

Picked up neat small 250 watt 12v & 5v supply from a Computer tape unit. Switched, fused and fan with about 10amp 12v and 20amp 5v outputs. Strap it to the pier to drive the mount. More than enough current to drive some red led lighting at ground level.